This is what some of you must be thinking, right? Don't worry!! Using the verbs ser and estar is easier than you think. ;-)

Unfortunately, we can't say there are a couple of set rules which will apply to all uses but there are certainly a few ways to help you understand the contexts where these verbs are more likely to appear. So we have decided to create two posts on the uses of ser and estar. The first one will deal with how to use them for descriptions whereas the second one will have to do with their specific uses.

Let's get started!

Broadly speaking, the verb ser refers to the nature of things, this is, it describes features which are inherent to the noun being described. It also classifies the noun, this is, it can set different categories. In a different way, the verb estar never refers to the nature of nouns but their state/condition, situation, or circumstance.

Attention! A typical error when teaching these differences is to link the verb ser with the concept of permanent/constant, and the verb estar with change/subjective. This is not always true so we recommend following the rules we have just presented.

It is important to understand it's not always a mechanical selection process but a choice speakers make according to what they want to express.